Lowepro Pro Runner x450 AW review

I had the opportunity to use this do-all bag for the last four weeks. I used it at one wedding, a birthday party and a personal trip to Dallas TX so, how did this hybrid bag do? Let’s find out.

Appearance:

When you look this bag over it does not scream camera bag unless you have your tripod mounted on the front. It really does look more like a standard airline roller bag. The Lowepro logo is small and subtle and the bag model tag is even more subtle, there is no screaming logo to detract from its purposeful yet professional look. Only when you use the Lowepro AW rain cover does the Lowepro logo take center stage but even then it is not over the top.

sideview

frontview

Quality:

In the tradition of Lowepro photo bags the quality is excellent, the outer shell is solid, strong and made of weather resistant ripstop. The zippers, seams, handles, wheels, pull handle and straps are all constructed of good quality materials and function as designed. The interior dividers are of standard Lowepro fare, well padded and of varied size to allow customization of the inside.

pull handle

wheels

Many hybrid backpack/rolling camera bags that I have used seem to ignore the quality of either the wheels or backpack straps doing neither well, but the Lowepro Pro Runner x450 AW pays equal attention to the quality and function of both the rolling portions of the bag and the backpack straps and waist belt. I also decided to pay close attention to the zippers and buckles as these are traditionally areas that fail on camera bags. I spent some time working the zippers and buckles to find a weak spot or areas where they might catch or fail, in 4 weeks of heavy use I have yet to find fault in any of the Lowepro zippers or buckles.

detailed view

high quality straps

Gear Capacity, Protection and Fit:

This is a large bag so I loaded it down to see how much it would hold and how it would fit (See list and photo H below). I tried several different ways to pack it including having both my D700 and F100 with attached lens and without..

I found I preferred the attached lens but I did have to bend one of the dividers in a way that it was not designed to, but it worked very well. All the gear was well protected and fit nicely. The only lens I own I had trouble getting into the bag was my 500 f/4 Nikkor but to be honest the bag is not designed to carry such a large lens. That said I could get it in if I removed just about everything else.

5 comments

Not sure if fully loaded it will fit under an airline seat. The smaller x350 most likely fit but the x450 fully loaded with a laptop does bulk up some. In first class and Business class I think it would fit but in coach and smaller no frills airlines it maybe a struggle to get under. I do think it would fit in the overhead of most airlines if you board first. Let me see if I can some how find a way to test this for you. I do have a friend at FedEx who's a pilot maybe he can try it our for you they do have seats on FedEx planes.
Jim

My wife had no trouble and neither did I. But my wife is the one picture she is 5'6" and I'm 5'8" and a retired Navy corpsman who has spent many a day with over 75lbs on my back so this felt light fully loaded. With the waist belt and chest strap it really distributes the weight well. But everyone has different weight tolerances if you can handle 25lbs on your back that is distributed well I think this bag will work for you, but I do recommend your try one out first if you can.
Jim

I have an older trekker and it is just too heavy for me to use as a backpack (I'm 5'1" and 100 lbs) but it is great for wheeling around when you want to take a lot of equipment to a shoot. How is the weight on this for backpack use?

I think the Pro Trekker would have been a better fit for all the gear. Will it fit under an airplane seat would be most important to me because I also travel with my roller board suitcase in overhead bin.